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Question 69: How does baptism assure us that Christ's atoning work on the cross was for us? Answer: Christ has appointed this outward washing, promising that, as water washes away the filth of the body, so also his blood and Spirit cleanse our souls from sin. 1 Peter 3:21, “Baptism, which now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” The catechism on baptism expresses it differently from the Bible. The Bible says baptism does not wash away the filth of the flesh, but the doctrine says it does. Baptism does not signify the washing away of sins, but rather death to sin. Romans 6:3-4 “Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried with him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Being born again of water and the Spirit...

Question 68: According to the New Testament, how many sacraments did Christ institute? Answer: Two: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Matthew 3:13-15 “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to stop him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ Jesus answered, ‘Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” So John gave him permission.” Since Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, it can be argued that Christ did not institute baptism. However, before his ascension, Jesus commanded the widespread spread of the gospel through baptism. Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” However, the Holy Communion was instituted by Jesus himself, and he personally gave it to his disc...

Question 67: Do the Word and the Sacraments then direct our faith to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross as the only ground of salvation? A: Yes. The Holy Spirit not only teaches us through the Word, but also assures us through the holy sacraments that our salvation rests entirely in Christ's death for us on the cross. Sacraments include baptism and the Lord's Supper, both of which focus on union with Jesus Christ's death on the cross and resurrection. Being united with the death and resurrection of the cross confirms that believers, too, died with Jesus on the cross and were resurrected with his resurrection. As the catechism reveals, the doctrine speaks only of death on the cross, and without mention of resurrection, it is only half-true. The salvation of the saints is incomplete if they remain on the cross. Without the resurrection, death on the cross becomes meaningless. If a believer does not currently believe in the resurrection, they remain on the cross.

Question 66: What are sacraments? Answer: A sacrament is a visible holy sign or seal, ordained by God, not only to enable us who use it to understand more clearly the promises of the gospel, but also to seal them with his own seal.  This is the gospel promised by God, that he, by grace, pardons our sins and gives us eternal life through the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The night before his crucifixion, Jesus spoke of the New Covenant. After breaking bread, he said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." Those who are in Jesus Christ become participants in the New Covenant. Those who are in Jesus Christ are those who are united with Jesus, who died on the cross, and are buried with him. It is the believer's belief that Jesus died for his sins and the acceptance of that death as his own. Therefore, the believer becomes dead to the law (Galatians 2:19), to sin (Romans 6:2), and to the world (Galatians 6:14). Romans 6:3 also says, "Do you not know that all ...

Question 65: You confess that you participate in Christ and his blessings by faith. Where does this faith come from? Answer: The Holy Spirit puts faith into our hearts through the Holy Word and strengthens it through the use of the Holy Sacraments. God does not grant faith to just anyone, but to those who repent and believe in Jesus' death and resurrection. Otherwise, everyone would be under the law. Therefore, God grants those who are free from the law a new birth from heaven through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 3:23-25 ​​“Before faith came, we were kept under the law, kept in custody until the faith would be revealed. So the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” The word "holy" is synonymous with "sanctification" and "holiness." It signifies a life set apart for God and union with Him in Christ. God recognizes as holy those who died w...

Question 64: Wouldn't such teachings make people indifferent and wicked about good deeds? Answer: No. Those who are united to Christ through true faith cannot help but bear the fruit of gratitude. The question is, if salvation is achieved by God's grace and not by good deeds or effort, wouldn't that make us indifferent to good deeds and become evil? Humans are creatures made up of a combination of flesh and spirit. Because their spirits are imprisoned in a physical body, they are called sinners. However, believers who repent and enter into Jesus Christ believe that their physical body has died, and so their spirits are resurrected by the power of the Holy Spirit, and their spirits, clothed in a spiritual body, attain salvation. However, even among saints, there are two bodies within the flesh: a fleshly (sarco) body and a spiritual (pneuma) body. The believer's fleshly mind and spiritual mind are in spiritual conflict. Therefore, while saints may bear good fruit, they c...

Question 63: God has promised to reward good works in this life and the next, so why do you so neglect them?  Answer: Because the reward is not a reward for effort, but a gift of grace. Most pastors in today's church communities claim that, like worldly rewards, there will be rewards (compensations) in the kingdom of God. They say it's a gift of grace, but they're actually trying to motivate believers to strive for the expectation of reward. Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would come to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards (misdapodotes μισθαποδότης) those who diligently seek him." Misdapodotes is not a reward, but an inheritance. It means that God gives an inheritance in the kingdom of God to those who have faith. 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Or do you not know that all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may receive the prize. Or do you not know that all the runners run,...